History's Warning: An Evening with Lord Andrew Roberts

An Evening with Lord Andrew Roberts

The Centre for Independent Studies invites you to an evening with one of the world's foremost historians, Lord (Andrew) Roberts of Belgravia, delivering the John Bonython Lecture in Sydney on Wednesday 16 September 2026.

2026 marks the 50th anniversary of the Centre for Independent Studies. For half a century, CIS has championed free markets, individual liberty, and the institutions that underpin open societies. There is no more fitting way to mark this milestone than an evening with a historian whose work has shaped how the West understands its own past, and its present dangers.

The Lecture

At a time when antisemitism is metastasising alarmingly across the West, with lethal consequences, Andrew Roberts looks to history to see how it can be fought by liberal democracies without threatening their own traditions of tolerance and free speech. He argues that an old enemy has returned in a new guise, and must be confronted domestically with the same resolve shown by our grandfathers' generation against its first iteration.

Drawing on a lifetime of historical scholarship, Roberts will examine what the past teaches us about defending free societies from within, and how liberal democracies can meet this challenge without betraying the very values that define them.

About the Speaker

Lord (Andrew) Roberts of Belgravia has written 21 books, which have been translated into 28 languages and have won thirteen literary prizes. These include Churchill: Walking with Destiny, Napoleon: A Life, and most recently Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare 1945 to Ukraine, co-authored with General David Petraeus.

He is the Bonnie and Tom McCloskey Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where he hosts the podcast Secrets of Statecraft with Andrew Roberts; a visiting Fellow of King's College, London; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Historical Society; and a member of the House of Lords. He was a founding member of the Friends of Israel Initiative and chaired the All-Party Parliamentary Group report on the 7 October massacres.

The John Bonython Lecture

The John Bonython Lecture began in 1984 to honour the founding Chairman of the CIS Board of Trustees. For more than four decades it has brought the world's leading thinkers to Australia, fostering debate and injecting new ideas into public discourse. Past speakers include Thomas Sowell, Francis Fukuyama, Václav Klaus, Niall Ferguson, Mario Vargas Llosa, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Rupert Murdoch, and, most recently, Andrew Neil. Andrew Roberts joins a distinguished line of speakers who have defined the debates of their times.

Event Details

• Date: Wednesday 16 September 2026

• Time: 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm

• Venue: Amora Hotel Sydney, 11 Jamison Street, Sydney

• Dress: Semi-formal/cocktail attire is suitable. However, no strict dress codes will apply.

CIS is bringing Lord Roberts to Australia in partnership with the Robert Menzies Institute in Melbourne. He will also speak in Melbourne on the evening of Thursday 17 September 2026. For details, please visit robertmenziesinstitute.org.au

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Event Pricing

Tickets start at $345 and are inclusive of GST. To save on the Humanitix booking fee, please select invoice as payment method or contact CIS directly via events@cis.org.au or on 02 9438 4377 to request an invoice.

• This event has tiered ticketing options, which include VIP, Platinum, Gold and Standard.

• Tickets are available for individual purchase, as well as by table.

• Tables consist of 10 seats and offer the best value, saving up to $50 per seat against individual tickets.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What's included in my ticket?
  Your ticket includes a three-course dinner with beverages and the John Bonython Lecture delivered by Lord (Andrew) Roberts.

• Can I book a table?
  Yes. Tables seat 10 and are ideal for organisations, firms, or groups of friends and colleagues. Booking a full table also saves against the individual seat price.

• What's the difference between the tiers?
  Tiers determine seating proximity to the stage and speaker. VIP tables offer the closest seating, including the opportunity to be seated with the speaker or CIS Director.

• Is the dress code strict?
  No. Semi-formal or cocktail attire is suitable, but no strict dress code applies.

• Can I pay by invoice?
  Yes. To avoid the Humanitix booking fee, contact CIS directly at events@cis.org.au or 02 9438 4377 to arrange payment by invoice or credit card.

• Do you cater for dietary requirements?
  Yes. You'll be asked to note any dietary requirements at checkout, or you can let us know by contacting events@cis.org.au.

• Are tickets refundable?
  Please contact CIS at events@cis.org.au regarding any cancellations or transfers.

• Is the event accessible?
  Yes. If you have accessibility requirements, please let us know at events@cis.org.au and we'll ensure they're accommodated.

• Who do I contact with questions?
  The CIS events team is happy to help at events@cis.org.au or 02 9438 4377.